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David W. Suddarth

Welcome to Ancestral Journeys, my genealogy research blog. Researching one's ancestors is like taking a journey back through time. Each of our ancestors have a story and those stories are waiting to be told. I hope to do that, as well as outline research methods and other information relating to genealogy and family history. Even if we do not share the same ancestry, I hope you will find some of the discussion and ideas of benefit. For my complete profile, click on the 'About' tab at the top of the page.

William Hart Monroe – 1930 Census

When searching census records, I make up a census inventory for each person. That way, I have a record of what census records I have found and where they were living in each of those years. For William, I started with the 1930 census.

Knowing where the family was from (I know where my grandmother was born), it was not difficult to find the 1930, 1920, 1910 and 1900 census records. In 1930, the family is enumerated in the city of Marseilles, Manlius Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. From the census, I get the following information:

The family is living at 850 Washington Street in the town of Marseilles, Illinois. William H. Munroe [sic] is the head of the household. He is renting the house that his family is living in for $20 per month and they do not own a radio set. Many of his neighbors, with a couple of exceptions, are also renting their homes and do not have radios in the home. William is listed as 49 years old, making him born around 1881. This is right in line with the birth date of 17 October 1880 that I found in the family history book. Further information on the census states that he was 22 years old when married. If he was born in 1880, that would put his marriage date in 1902. Again, that is right where it should be if the book I have is correct. Then things begin to get interesting. According to the census, William was born in Scotland, as was his father. His mother was born in Ireland. This means that William must have immigrated to the US at some point. Looking further in the census, his wife, Elsie was born in Illinois. Therefore, William most likely immigrated before 1902, the year of his marriage. Unfortunately, the column on the 1930 census which is to be used to record year of immigration contains a number 1 in a circle, not a date. In addition, the column which is to be used to record naturalization contains ‘Un’ for unknown. Finally, from the 1930 census, we learn that William is working as a laborer in a carton factory.

Other members of the household include the following:

Name

Relationship

Age

Place of Birth

Occupation

Elsie

Wife

46

Illinois

None

William Jr.

Son

22

Illinois

Pipe Fitter – Carton Factory

James

Son

18

Illinois

Laborer – Dairy

Estaline

Daughter

17

Illinois

None

Augustus

Son

14

Illinois

None

Cecil

Son

12

Illinois

None

Robert

Son

9

Illinois

None

Elsie Mae

Daughter

5

Illinois

None

From this census record, I can begin to fill in the pieces of William’s life and begin to verify some of the information I already have. In addition, this census tells me that I should consider trying to find more information regarding his immigration. I also am going to need to begin studying up on Scotland and the records which may be available to me there, particularly a birth record for William. First, though, I need to find the other census records to see what else I can learn about William.